植物WRKY转录因子结构特点及其生物学功能

WRKY转录因子是近年来在植物中发现的N-端含有WRKYGQK高度保守氨基酸序列的新型转录调控因子, 它能够与(T)(T)TGAC(C/T)序列(W-box)发生特异性作用, 调节启动子中含W-box元件的调节基因和/或功能基因的表达, 从而参与植物的各种防卫反应, 调节植物的生长发育等。文章主要论述了植物WRKY转录因子的基本结构及其生物学功能。     

Targeting the pattern-triggered immunity pathway to enhance resistance to Fusarium graminearum

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a disease of the floral tissues of wheat and barley for which highly resistant varieties are not available. Thus, there is a need to identify genes/mechanisms that can be targeted for the control of this devastating disease. Fusarium graminearum is the primary causal agent of FHB in North America. In addition, it also causes Fusarium seedling blight. Fusarium graminearum can also cause disease in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. The Arabidopsis–F. graminearum pathosystem has facilitated the identification of targets for the control of disease caused by this fungus. Here, we show that resistance against F. graminearum can be enhanced by flg22, a bacterial microbe-associated molecular pattern (MAMP). flg22-induced resistance in Arabidopsis requires its cognate pattern recognition receptor (PRR) FLS2, and is accompanied by the up-regulation of WRKY29. The expression of WRKY29, which is associated with pattern-triggered immunity (PTI), is also induced in response to F. graminearum infection. Furthermore, WRKY29 is required for basal resistance as well as flg22-induced resistance to F. graminearum. Moreover, constitutive expression of WRKY29 in Arabidopsis enhances disease resistance. The PTI pathway is also activated in response to F. graminearum infection of wheat. Furthermore, flg22 application and ectopic expression of WRKY29 enhance FHB resistance in wheat. Thus, we conclude that the PTI pathway provides a target for the control of FHB in wheat. We further show that the ectopic expression of WRKY29 in wheat results in shorter stature and early heading time, traits that are important to wheat breeding.     

WRKY转录因子功能的多样化

WRKY是植物中一类重要的转录因子家族,其共同的特点是含有高度保守的核心氨基酸序列WRKYGQK,在C-末端有一个锌指结构。WRKY受到病原菌、损伤、SA(salicylic acid)等因子的诱导后表达,特异性识别(T)(T)TGAC(C/T)序列(W-box),调节基因的表达而参与许多生理过程,如抗病、损伤、生长发育以及衰老等。该文主要介绍了WRKY的结构特点及其功能的研究进展。